Refrigerating machine



Allg. 20, 1929.- C @RR REFRIGERATING .MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1924 .Inventor @Lark Orfby M HLsAttorr-sy `Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES CLARK OBR, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOIB. TO GEN ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

. A CORPORATION Ol'l NEW YORK.

REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

Application led December 16, 1924. Serial No. 756,336.

My invention relates to refrigerating machines and more particularly to that type of machine wherein a suitable refrigerant is passed through a cycle which consists first, in compressing it while in gaseous condition; second, cooling it until it is liquefied, and third, allowing it to evaporate and expand whereby it absorbs heat and the surrounding objects are maintained at the de# sired low temperature.

The object ofmy invention is a novel construction and arrangement of part-s, whereby the cooling of the refrigerant in the second step of the cycle above set forth is obtained in a simple manner without the use of water cooling. To this end I arrange a condenser, of any suitable form, such as a 4coil of pipe, about the machine in spaced relation thereto which produces adequate circulation of cooling air for the condenser.

Other features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better `understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section, of a refrigerating machine embodving my invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figl, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line e-a of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown my refrigerating machine mounted on a'cover 4 for the top of a refrigerator. The refrigerating machine comprises a base 5, a casing 6 mounted on the base. and provided with a chamber 7 for containing condensedv refrigerant and a compression chamber 8 contalning a compressor. A motor 9 for driving the compressor 1s located above the compression chamb'er and the motor and compressor are substantially coaxial with the casing. A condenser of any suitable, form may be provided for condensing the compressed refrigerant. In the present construction I have shown a coil of pipe 10, which is arranged about the casing 6 in such relation thereto that theheat radiated from the casing combined with the heat radiated from the condenser -causes sufficient upward flow of air by natural draft to cool the machine during its operation. The coil of pipe and the casing are substantially coaxial and close together, so that they form a symmetrical restricted passage for air. The ooil of pipe 10 has its turns spaced apart and has one end 11 connected to and communicating with the compression chamber 8 and the other end 12 connected to and communicating with the chamber A7. This arrangement of the coil of pipe 10 aboutthe casing enclosing the motor and compressor forms a passage for air extending axially "of the coil of pipe between the pipe and the `casing which cools them during operation of the machine. Below the chamber 7 is an evaporator 13, Vwhich communicates with the chamber 7 in order to receive the condensed refrigerant and with the compression chamber 8 for returning the vaporized refrigerant thereto. cat-ed in the refrigerator.

The compressor located in the compression chamber8 comprises two cylinders 14, provided with trunnions 15 and 16. The trunnions 15 are ournaled in a member 17, which forms the top of the chamber 7 and the bottom of the chamber 8, and the trunnions 16 are journaled in a member 18, which forms the top of compression chamber 8 and the bottom of the enclosure of the motor 9. The lower portion of the cylinders 14 are flattened and are maintained in close contact with the top of member 17 by means of springs 19. The gaseous refrigerant is conducted to the compressor cylinders through suction pipe 20, to plugs 21, through pipes 22, .to openings 23 formed in the cyllnder walls. In the end of the walls of cylinders 14. are snifter valves 24, which serve to permit the passage of compressed gas into the compression chamber 8. Pistons 25, mounted in ythe cylinders are operated by straps 26 motor 9. v

The shaft 28 is journaled in lbearings 29 and 30 formed in members 17 and 18. Compression chamber 8 ris adapted to contain oil preferablysufficient in quantity tosubmerge the cylinders 14. lThe upper bearing 30 is lubricated by oil splashed into cup 30 located near the upper part of the bearing housing, an oil hole 'being drilled through the Yhousing to the bearing proper. Upon the upper portion of shaft 28 is mounted the rotor 31 of the electric motor, which may be of any usual type and shown in the drawing es an .induction motor There is 1 1@ The evaporator is usually lo-l 0 of an eccentric 27 mounted on shaft 28 of the o bearin for shaft 28 above the rotor 31. Mount d on .the lower end ofthe shaft 28 areweiglits 32- arranged to be .thrownout by centrifugal force. These weights act on a lever 33 of an equalizer valve 34 mounted in an equalizing tube 34 connected to the plugs 21. Mounted in the suction tube or pipe 20v is an automatic valve 50 of the snifter type having a flat spring 51- (see Flg. 2). The urpose of this valve 1s to prevent hot gases rom entering the evaporator when the machine has stopped and the equalizing valve 34 is open.

In the lower part of the casing 6, there is formed a depression 35, which 1n effect constitutes a reservoir for the collection of liquid refrigerant. In the bottom of this depression is an opening 36 which is opened and closed by a valve 37. This valve 1s controlled by a pivoted lever 38 that has mounted on the end thereof a float 39. The float 39 will be raised when a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant has collected in the depression 35. Communicating with the opening 36 isa tube 40 which passes refrigerant to the evaporator 13.

The evaporator consists of a liquid receiving receptacle 41 and evaporator coils 42.

Inlet tube 40 communicates with the receptacle at the top and extends downwardly therein well below the normal 'level of the liquid refrigerant.l Suction pipe 20 also communicates With the top of the receptacle 4l' at a oint well above the level of the liquid refrigerant, so as not to carry back `-to the compressor liquid refrigerant.

The motor 9 is completely enclosed by'a casing 43 extending over the sides of the stator of the motor and over the top thereof, the member 18 completing the enclosure. The outside -of the casing 43 is provided with heat radiating lins44, preferably made of copper and fastenedY to the casing, as by soldering. The portion of the casing 6 surp rounding the compressor chamber 8 is similarly provided with heat radiating ns 45.

The coil of pipe-10 for condensing .the refrigerant consists of finned copper tubing arranged around the casing enclosing the motor and the casing eiiclosin the compression chamber and outside of t e fins 44 and 45. The tubing is held in place by brackets 46 and spacing members 47, between which the pipe is clamped, screws 48 holding the spacing member and bracket together. The bracket is fastened to the base 5 by screws 49. The upper end 11 of the coil of pipe extends vertically downward through the ins 44 and enters the top of the compression chamber 8. The lower end 12 of the coil of pipe enters chamber 7 at a point just above the depression 35 therein.

he operation of the refrigerating machine is as follows:

The refrigerant, such for example as sulinsana drawn through suction pipes 20 to plugs 21 through pipes 22 into the` cylinder -14 through the openings 23 in the cylinder walls. The oscillation of these cylinders by reason of the slight turning movement of the piston rods, during their reciprocation, causes the openings 23 to move into and out oflalignment with the ends of pipes 22. The compression cylinders are single acting. The refrigerant is compressed in the cylinders and passed out through the snifter valves 24 into compression chamber 8, thence into the coil of pipe 10 where the gas is cooled by the air flowing through the passage between the coil of pipe andthe casing of the machine. The gas is thus liquefied and the liquid refrigerant enters the chamber 7 through the end 12 of the coil of pipe and collects 'in the depression `or reservoir 35. lfVhen a sufficient quantity of refrigerant has collected, the float 39 is raised, opening. valve 37 and allowing the liquid to pass through pipe into receptacle 41 and evaporating: coils 42 of the evaporator. The liquid refrigerant fills these coils 42 and a greater .part of the receptacle 41 as shown in the drawing. After absorbing heat from the refrigerator, the liquid evaporates and passes back into the refrigerating machine through pipe `20.

In order to prevent oil from draining down the suction pipe 20 into the evaporator, the pipe 2O is connected into the side of the plug 21 above Vthe end of pipe 22.

`Any oil that passes the port openings 23 in inunication between the chamber 7 and the equalizing tube 34 and suction pipe 20. Whenthe machine is shut down, however, the weights drop to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2,. moving lever 33 so as to open the valve 34 and thus open up communica.-y tgicon betweenchamber 7 and equalizer tube therefore the opening of valve 34 equalizes the pressurebetween chamber 7 and suc-\4 tion pipe 20. Since chamber 8 and chamber 7 are connected by the coil of pipe, the pressure in the whole of the machine will be equalized when the machine is shut down. .In order to prevent'hot gases from going into the evaporator when the machine has stopped and the equalizer valve 34 is open,

the snifter valve 50 is provided. When the machine, is operating the vaporized refrigerant 1s drawn from the evaporator, into the compressor cylinders, the suction of the This tube is connected to plugs 21 and' ioo compressor lifting the s ring a 51. When the machine has stoppe and t e equalizer valve 34 is open, the spring flap 51 has n0 difference of ressure on its two sides and consequently t e valve 50 is closed preventing` the gases from flowing into the evaporator.

If desired, the rate of cooling of the refrigerant may be increased by directing a stream of air on the coil of pipe 10, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such a modification as well as any others, which do not depart from the spirit and;` scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersfPatent of the United States is 1. lIp a refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor in said compression chamber, a motor for driving said compressor, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant and an exposed coil of pipe extending around said casino' for condensing the refrigerant, one end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the compression chamber and the other end being connected to and communicating with the chamber containing the condensed refrigerant, said coil being spaced from said casing whereby an upward current of cooling air is induced between the casing and the coil.

2. In an air-cooled refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor arranged to discharge into said compression chamber, a motor for driving said compressor located above said compressor, and an exposed coil of pipe having heat radiating projections thereon for condensing the refrigerant, means vforming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, one end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the upper portion of the compression chamber and theother end being connected to and communicating with the chamber for containing the condensed refrigerant, an evaporatorbelow said chamber for containing said condensed refrigerant, said evaporator communicating with Said last mentioned chamber in order to receive the condensed refrigerant, said evaporator also communicating with said compression chamber for returning the vaporized refrigerant thereto, said coil of pipe being arranged around and spaced from the casing whereby a cooling current of air is induced over the casing and the coil.

3. In an air-cooled refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, the outer wall of said compression chamber having heat radiating projections thereon, a compressor within said compression chamber, a motor for driving said compressor, and an exposed coil eating with the condenser chamber,

of pipe for condensing the refrigerant,` means formin a chamber for condensed refrigerant, said; coil of pipe surrounding said casing and said projections, one end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the upper ortion ofsaid compression chamberlian'd t e other end being connected to and communicating with the chamber for condensed refrigerant, said coil of pipe being so spaced from said casing as to orm a passage for the flow of air between the casing and the coil.

4. In an air-'cooled refrigerating machine, the combination with a casin having outwardly projecting heat radiating fins thereon and provided with a compression charnber, a compressor within said compression chamber, a motor for driving said compressor, said motor being located above said compressor and a coil of pipe for condensing the refrigerant, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, said coil of pipe surrounding and spaced from said casing and said ins, said coil of pipe being so spaced from said casing as to form a passage for the iiow of air between the casing and the coil, one end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the upper portion of said compression chamber and the other end being connected to and communian evaporator below said chamber for containing said condensed refrigerant, said evaporator communicating with said last mentioned chamber in order to receive the condensed refrigerant, said evaporator also communicating with said compression chamber for returning the vaporized refrigerant thereto.

5. In a refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor Within said compression chamber, a motor` within said casing for operating the compressor, said motor being located above said compressor, radiating fins on the portions of said casing that enclose said compressor and said motor, and a coil of pipe for condensing the refrigerant, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, said coil of pi e surrounding said casing outside of said ns, one. end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the compression chamber and the other end being connected to and communicating with the chamber for containing the condensed refrigerant.

6. In a refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor within said compression chamber, a motor within said casing for operating'the compressor, said motor being located above said compressor, radiating fins on the portions of said casing thatenclose said compressor and said motor and a coil of pipe for condensing the refrigerant, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, ysaid coil of pipe surrounding said caslng outslde of said fins, one

yend 'of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the upper portion of the compression chamber and the other end being connected to and communicating with the chamber for containing the condensed refrigerant.

7 In a refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor within said compression chamber, a motor within said casing for operating the compressor, said motor being located above said compressor, radiating iins on the portions of said casing that enclose said com ressor and said motor and a coil of pipe or condensing the refrigerant, means formi-ng a. chamber for condensed refrigerant said coil of pipe. surrounding said casing outside of said iins, one

end of said coil of pipe being connected to and communicating with the upper portion of the compression chamber and the other end being connected to and communicating with the chamber for containing the condensed refrigerant, an evaporator below said chamber for containing said condensed refrigerant, Vsaid evaporator communicating with said last mentioned chamber in order to receive thecondensed refrigerant, said evaporator also communicating with said compression chamber for returning the vaporized refrigerant thereto.

8. In a refrigerating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor havin a cylinder within said compression cham er, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, a condenser communicating with said compressor and said chamber for condensed refrigerant, a motor for driving said compressor, the cylinder of said compresser having a downwardly extending intake opening, a plug communicating with said opening, a pipe extending downward from said opening into said plug, and a suction pipe connected into the side of said plug and above the endof said iirst mentioned pipe for conveying vaporized refrigerant to saidcompressor.

9. In a refrige'rating machine, the combination with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor in said'- compression chamber, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, a condenser communicating with said compressor and said chamber for condensed refrigerant, an evaporator, sald evaporator communicating with the chamber containing the condensed refrigerant in order to receive the condensed refrlgerant, a suction pipe connecting said evaporator to said compression chamber for returning the vaporized lrefrigerant thereto, an equalizmg valve connected to said suction pipe for equalizing the pressure between the chamber containing the 'condensed refrigerant and the suction pipe when said machine stops, and an automatic valve in said suction pipe for preventing gases from entering the evaporator when the machine is `stopped andthe equalizing valve is open.

10. In a refrigerating machine, the combi'- nation with a casing provided with a compression chamber, a compressor in said compression chamber, means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant, a condenser communicating with said compressor and said chamber -for condensed refrigerant, an evaporator, said evaporator communicating With the'chamber containing the condensed refrigerant in order to receive the condensed refrigerant, a suction pipe connecting said 11. In an air-cooled refrigerating machine,

the combination of a casing comprising a' compression chamber having a compressor therein, and a chamber having an electric motor therein for drivin said compressor, an evaporator, and a con enser surrounding and spaced from said casing, said condenser being connected at one end with said compression chamber andat the other end with said evaporator, said ycondenser and said casing being cooled jointly by a common current of air induced therebetween.

12. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a casing comprising apcompression chamber, a compressor in said chamber, lateral heat radiating projections on said casing, and a condensing coil surrounding said casing, said condensingl coil being so spaced fromsaid casing as to induce an upward current of cooling air between the -casing and the coil suficient to cool the condensing coil during operation of the machine.

13. In an air-cooled refrigerating4 machine, the combination of a casing comprising a compression chamber, a compressor in said chamber, said casing comprising a second chamber, an electric motor for ldriving said compressor entirely enclosed by said second chamber, a condensing coil surrounding said casing and connected to said compression chamber, said casing having a series of heat radiating ns arranged opposite said motor and having a series of heat radiating fins arranged opposite said compressor.

14. A refrigerating machine comprising means forming a chamber for condensed refrigerant and a compression chamber, a compressor in said compression chamber and an air-cooled condenser coil having one end connected with the compression chamber and the other end connected with the chamber for condensed refrigerant, said condenser coil surrounding said compression chamber, said condenser being so spaced from said compression chamber as to induce an upward currentJ of 'air in the space between the coil and the chamber which cools the condenser and the machine.

15. A refrigerating machine comprising a casing forming a compression chamber, a compressor in said chamber, a motor connected to drive said compressor and arranged in said casing, outwardly projecting iins on said casing, and an air-cooled condenser comprising a coil of pipe surrounding said casing in spaced relation therewith, said condenser being so spaced from said casing as to induce an air current over said fins in the space between the casing and the coil.

16. A11 air-cooled refrigerating machine comprising a casing forming a compression chamber, a compressor therein, an electric motor in said casing having a driving' connection with said compressor, and a condenser surrounding and spaced from said casing in such relation as to induce a flow of air therebetween by natural draft so that said condenser and said casin are cooled jointly by a common current o air induced therebetween.

17. In a ,refrigerating machine, the combination of a casing having a compressor therein, a motor for. driving said compressor, and a condenser surrounding said casingin such relation thereto as to form an air passage between said casing and said condenser and to induce suicient flow of air by natural draft to cool said casing and condenser during operation of the machine.

18. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a casing having a compressor therein, a motor f or driving said compressor, and a condenser in the form of a coil of pipe surrounding said casing in such relation thereto as to form an air passage between the same and said casing and to induce sufficient flow of air by natural draft to cool said easing and condenser during operation of the machine.

192 In a refrigerating machine, the combination of Va casing having a compressor therein, a motor for driving said compressor, and a condenser in the form of a coil of pipe having its turns spaced apart and surrounding said casing in such relation thereto as to form an air passage between the same `and said casing and to induce sufficient low of air by natural draft to cool said casing and condenser during operation of the machine.

20. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compression heat radiating casing containing compressed refrigerant, a refrigerant compressor arranged in said casing and discharging into the same, a motor -arranged to drive said compressor, and a condenser surrounding said casing in such relation thereto `as to form an air passage between said casing and said condenser and to induce suicient flow of air through said passage b natural draft to cool said casing and con enser during operation of the machine.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of Dec., 1924.

CLARK ORR. 

